Pura Aventura

Eclipse Special Basque Country Signature Drive

8 Aug - 16 Aug 2026

Wind your way from the fishing villages of the Basque coast to the sun soaked vineyards of La Rioja and back up to the vibrant modernity of Bilbao - via the world's oldest salt pans, and gastronomic treats. Right in the heart of it all? Basque food, wine, history and culture - plus a solar eclipse.

When

8 Aug - 16 Aug 2026

Nights

8 nights

Price

£0/pp

Party size

2 people

As the scenery changes, so too do the people you meet and the flavours you taste. This itinerary puts you in the company of winemakers, salt harvesters, foodie experts and our team of welcoming hosts. Your glass is always full of something local, your plate stocked with indulgent treats and your head full of vibrant stories.

Total eclipse

Of course, no grand tour is complete without some special places to stay: three delightfully different but all beautiful small hotels across your week of memorable Basque discovery...

8 Aug

Vizcaya

9 Aug

Vizcaya

10 Aug

Rioja Alavesa

11 Aug

Rioja Alavesa

12 Aug

Rioja Alavesa

13 Aug

Rioja Alavesa

14 Aug

Bilbao

15 Aug

Bilbao

16 Aug

Return

Day 1 | Sat 8th August

Vizcaya

Travel to Bilbao, drive to your hotel in the countryside near the fishing harbour of Bermeo.

Flying from London this morning, you will collect a rental car on arrival (manual transmission with basic insurance for one driver).

It's a surprisingly scenic drive from the airport immediately into the Basque countryside as you travel only about 30 minutes to your hotel - a very high quality boutique hotel surrounding by fields and countryside sloping down towards the fishing harbour of Bermeo and the Bay of Biscay beyond.

This afternoon is yours to settle in and relax, enjoying your surroundings. If you like, the Urdaibai birding centre is nearby, as is the town of Guernica. This provincial town was made famous after being bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1937 as part of Nationalist Spanish advances in the Spanish Civil War.

Another option is to explore the UNESCO biosphere reserve of the Urdaibai River estuary. If conditions are right, you can arrange a morning of gentle kayaking where a guide will introduce you to the cultural and physical landscapes as well as to the abundant birdlife of the wetlands.

The harbour at Bermeo

Map - Day 1

Today's activity

Collect your car in Bilbao and travel towards the village of Mutriku, exploring en route

Vehicle

Medium-sized manual car

Overnight

Hotel Nafarrola

1 x Deluxe double

Meals

Dinner included today.

Day 2 | Sun 9th August

Vizcaya

A self-guided day to visit prehistoric cave paintings and a painted forest before swimming off a beautiful beach.

There's much to see without driving far today, starting at the Santimamiñe caves.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site which covers the Paleolithic cave art of northern Spain, these caves are the most significant ancient paintings in the Basque Country. Although access is heavily restricted, there is a first-rate virtual headset experience here which, combined with your being able to peek inside the real caves, makes for a fascinating visit.

Tucked away in the forests of the hill opposite is the marvellous 'Painted Forest'. After a pleasant walk of a couple of kilometres, you walk into a section of forest in which 34 different works of Land Art have been created by local artist Agustín Ibarrola. The clusters of trees reveal themes and collages which are best seen from specific viewpoints marked on the forest floor. It's a rather magical place and a splendid place for a picnic.

With your head full of art and belly full of food, you might like to break your journey home with a walk up to a hilltop chapel for views out along the coast and down the estuary. Alternatively, stop at the beach for a cup of tea, or cold beer and perhaps a splash in the waves before you return to your hotel.

The Bosque Pintado in the forests of Urdaibai

Map - Day 2

Today's activity

Visit Santimamiñe caves, the painted forest and Laga beach

Included excursion

Santimamiñe cave entrance (€2 fee payable locally)

Included excursion

Painted forest entrance

Overnight

Hotel Nafarrola

1 x Deluxe double

Meals

Breakfast included

Day 3 | Mon 10th August

Rioja Alavesa

Leave the coast to travel south to the famous vineyards of La Rioja, choosing your route to see the best landscapes.

Your travels take you into the heart of the Rioja wine-growing region today.

Today you leave the coast behind to travel into the green hills of the Basque part of the La Rioja winegrowing region. The drive is only about 90 minutes so you have lots of time to explore today.

Depending on your mood, you might like to walk along the coast, or in the hills. The famous Flysch coast lies just to the east of where are staying so is an option for a detour as you head south. Deriving from the German word for 'glide', thin vertical sheets of rock create spectacular rocky stripes down the cliffs and into the Cantabrian sea.

As well as being fascinating to look at, these rock formations are a geological goldmine. This stretch of coast, from Zumaia to Mutriku, is part of a Geopark and the things you can see as you walk today, are truly amazing.

If you time your walk for low tide, you can follow the beaches around headlands all the way to the village of Deba. If the tide is high, or you simply prefer, walk on the 13km clifftop path which forms part of the northern branch of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Either way, you will be treated to beautiful views.

Another idea would be for you to set off south into the highlands, a very different aspect of the Basque Country

Your next hotel is a spectacularly modern structure in a traditional village in the Basque part of Rioja.

Drive 1hr 45min, 115km.

Walking along the Camino del Norte between Zumaia and Deba

Map - Day 3

Today's activity

Travel from Mutriku on the Basque coast to the vineyards of La Rioja

Overnight

La Molinera Etxea

1 x Suite

Meals

Breakfast included

Day 4 | Tue 11th August

Rioja Alavesa

Today is yours to explore the wineries and landscapes of La Rioja - from your village of Samaniego.

Today is yours to explore the wineries of La Rioja.

In the village itself is a wonderful traditional bodega where you are treated to a guided tour. From here you'll walk to the outskirts of the village and the stikingly modern Baigorri winerey - a very different aspect of Rioja's winemaking culture.

After this visit, you will sit down for a tasting menu lunch with a view of the vines and hills beyond.

All of this without leaving your village!

Sunrise over the vines of Samaniego

Map - Day 4

Today's activity

Visit a family-run winery and explore Rioja by car or on foot

Meals

Lunch at Bodegas Baigorri

Overnight

La Molinera Etxea

1 x Suite

Meals

Breakfast & lunch included

Day 5 | Wed 12th August

Rioja Alavesa

Walk up through the forested hills and out onto the Agenzana hilltop for the best imaginable viewpoint for the solar eclipse.

Today is yours to enjoy and prepare for nature's most awesome spectacle - a total solar eclipse.

You are pretty much in the heart of the path of totality and the weather is generally clear and sunny at this time of year. On this basis, your chances of perfect conditions are reasonably high. Saying that, this is nature so it's always possible that the day is marked by low cloud and rain - there are no guarantees!

However, assuming all is well with the world and you are treated to a clear sunny day, you have most of the day to simply relax and enjoy your surroundings, heading for a swim in the reservoir or a walk in the woods.

This afternoon though, you should set off in good time to be settled in to your panoramic viewpoint up at the summit of Alto de la Agenanza (1,738m) for the total eclipse at around 8.30pm.

The walk itself is a circular 13.6km route gaining & losing 600m following principally wide forest trails before it reaches the ridge and then the hilltop which offers big, clear views to the north over the Ebro Valley of La Rioja.

You should be able to watch the eclipse roll in towards you with a totality lasting just under two minutes.

Head back downhill into the village for what will no doubt be a lively evening celebration of this rarest of events for mainland Spain!

Total eclipse

Map - Day 5

Today's activity

Walk to the top of the hill to see a total solar eclipse

Overnight

La Molinera Etxea

1 x Suite

Meals

Breakfast included

Day 6 | Thu 13th August

Rioja Alavesa

Free day to explore Rioja independently.

We have left today as a free day for you to explore Rioja independently under your own arrangements.

Vineyard and San Vicente de la Sonsierra as background

Map - Day 6

Today's activity

Free day to explore Rioja independently

Overnight

La Molinera Etxea

1 x Suite

Meals

Breakfast included

Day 7 | Fri 14th August

Bilbao

Head back towards the coast at Bilbao, experiencing ancient salt pans and modern cuisine on the way.

You head back towards the coast today to spend the next two nights in Bilbao, the Basque Country's biggest city and home to Frank Gehry's famous titanium-clad Guggenheim.

Before reaching the city, you'll explore one of the Basque Country's remarkable cultural landscapes - the little-known Salina de Añana. These are said to be the most ancient salt pans in the world and they have been producing salt here, miles from the sea, for up to 7,000 years.

On a fascinating tour, you will see how this process is not only being preserved but now actively celebrated. With the brine coming up from deep underground through what was the seabed, the purity of the salt here is famous. Almost every significant Spanish chef is an ambassador for this non-profit project which is aiming to get UNESCO World Heritage status. During your 90-minute tour, you will learn all about it, even taking a virtual fly-through and then doing a salt tasting session.

After you finish, you should be ready for some food. Happily, there is a very special restaurant close at hand, where you will enjoy a tasting menu lunch using ingredients sourced from the immediate surroundings, including salt from across the road - of course. Indeed you will be seated within what was a royal salt store.

Drive 1hr 45min, 130km.

The ancient salt pans of Añana

Map - Day 7

Today's activity

Travel from La Rioja to Bilbao, via the salt pans of Añana

Included excursion

Two-hour shared Salinas de Añana tour

Meals

Almazen tasting menu lunch

Overnight

Hotel Tayko

1 x Street view double

Meals

Breakfast & dinner included

Day 8 | Sat 15th August

Bilbao

Explore the delights of Bilbao, on and off the beaten track, on two wheels and on two feet.

Today should be a fun day as you get to know Bilbao.

Things start on two wheels as you join a guided group cycling around the city in the company of your local guide. The cycling is easy and safe given the extensive network of dedicated cycle paths, plus it gives you the chance to get out to parts of the city most visitors never get to experience. Whether that's the San Mamés football stadium or the harbourside out at Getxo will depend on the day, the group and your guide, but you can expect to return your bikes after three hours understanding and appreciating your host city.

Since you will most likely have worked up an appetite, we strongly suggest you try out the bistro at the Guggenheim Museum, their set menu lunch is a fantastic way to slow down after your city tour.

After lunch, head into the museum itself. We include tickets so you don't have to stand in line - and to make sure they aren't sold out. The museum itself is dominated by large permanent installations rather than endless galleries of work so it's a wonderfully airy experience. They also tend to have very good temporary exhibitions, entrance to which is included in the main ticket.

Once you have had your fill of art, it's probably time for you to head into the nearby commercial district to have a poke around the shops, or perhaps the bars of the old city hold more appeal. Either way, head back towards your hotel as the evening draws in as this is the best time of day for you to take the nearby funicular up to a wonderful viewpoint over the city.

Frank Gehry's Guggenheim transformed the image of Bilbao

Map - Day 8

Today's activity

Enjoy a guided cycling city tour of Bilbao, visit the Guggenheim and take a ride on a funicular

Included excursion

Half-day shared guided Bilbao bike tour

Included excursion

Guggenheim museum entrances

Overnight

Hotel Tayko

1 x Street view double

Meals

Breakfast included

Day 9 | Sun 16th August

Return

Enjoy your last morning in northern Spain as you head for home, or continue your travels from Bilbao.

Time to head for home today, or to continue your onward travel.

Depending on your travel plans, you may have a bit more time to stroll along the river and around the old town for a final bit of shopping or a pintxos lunch.

Aerial view on the famous city of Bilbao

Map - Day 9

Today's activity

Travel home from Bilbao

Meals

Breakfast included

Price

£0 /pp

This is a prize giveaway allocated at the discretion of Pura Aventura. It has no cash equivalent and is non-transferable. Full terms & conditions for the giveaway promotion are available on our website. The itinerary includes a hire car and is therefore best suited to those who drive, are over 18 years old, and are available to travel to Spain between 8th & 16th August 2026.

INCLUDED
Meals: All breakfasts, one dinner and two lunches. Drinks are extra.

Transport: Vehicle rental with basic insurance covering the primary named driver picking up and dropping off in Bilbao airport.

Excursions & activities: shared bike tour in Bilbao, Guggenheim entrances, shared Añana salt pans tour, shared winery visit.

Travel to Bilbao: flights from London to Bilbao are included on the dates of this holiday, at times to be confirmed by Pura Aventura. If you are not travelling from London then you can make your own travel arrangements to London or to Bilbao. No refunds will be given for unused flight sectors. If you choose to travel to Bilbao by another, lower carbon means such as train or ferry, please get in touch and we'll do what we can to support you.

Information: You will receive a detailed Travel Guide app, with extensive background information to enrich your travels with personal sightseeing and dining recommendations, plus instructions for your self-guided walks.

NOT INCLUDED
Full insurance, or extra drivers for the car. Meals not explicitly mentioned. Excursions and activities not listed as included. Extras at hotels such as drinks, laundry, etc are payable by you. Travel to and from gateways other than London and Bilbao on the dates of this trip.

Travel insurance is not included and is required as a condition of accepting the prize.

PLEASE NOTE
This promotion is subject to specific terms & conditions; errors and omissions excluded. Personal data collected in connection with this promotion is handled in accordance with our Eclipse Giveaway Privacy Notice.

If you are lucky enough to win this prize, you will be interviewed about your experience along the way - occasional short snippets in key locations, not being pursued by a film crew!

Why Pura?

As an Anglo-Spanish company, we have been inextricably linked to Spain since our beginnings in the 1990s. Therefore, it was with great pride that in 2023 Pura Aventura was handselected by TourSpain - the UK's official Spanish tourist board - to form a partnership based around promoting sustainable travel.

The trip you see before you bears the fruits our 25 years' experience of travelling in Spain and our simple commitment to sharing the places we love. Simply put, the result is an itinerary you cannot find elsewhere. You can put the guidebooks away and instead let us do all the thinking and all the logistics.

Travel Positive

Locally-owned
nights

6 of 8

Number of
partners

Protected areas
visited

Carbon
generated

156kg/pp

Carbon
mitigated

249kg/pp

Travel can be transformative. By stepping out of what we know, we can see the world through another lens, discovering what connects us and the captivating ways we differ.

Vibrant cultures, verdant lands, and delectable dishes made with passion by a chef who joins us at our table. We get to experience life deeper.

Travel is a gift—an invitation into the great unknown, where we step outside of our routines and have the opportunity to grow. We are explorers. Every day is an adventure to delight the curious.

To be a positive traveller means paying attention to the impact of our choices, respecting the lands, and venturing to lesser visited places. But travel is only truly positive when not at the expense of the environment or the communities who have graciously accepted us.

Travel Positive™ means holding ourselves accountable to ever-higher standards of care and never resting on our laurels. Most importantly, it’s working with the true experts of our choice destinations—the people whose homes we’re visiting.

Travel Positive: A Pura Promise

What next?

Please feel free to contact us to discuss any aspect of this trip, write to hola@pura-aventura.com or call +44 (0)1273 676 712. From the USA and Canada, call us toll free on 1-844-368-7192.

If you want to go ahead, we need to first check availability.

Once you are happy with arrangements we take a 20% deposit payable by card or bank transfer. Your confirmation paperwork is then shared with you on our secure MyPura site.

The balance is due 60 days prior to travel and is payable by bank transfer or card. Of course, we remain on hand throughout to help you prepare for your trip.

Your money is 100% protected, either by our ATOL (license 5408) or our ABTOT (license 5331), your planet protected by our Travel Positive commitments.

Remember, international travel is always quoted separately.